“As a result of this contemplation of God, love for God wells up in her with irresistible power. Her spirit has been called a spirit of love and so it is. However, it is no blind desire, but love sprung from intellectual contemplation, from knowledge acquired through faith. In order to remain firm in our …
Today, July 16, is the Solemnity of Our Lady of Mount Carmel. Our Lady of Mount Carmel is the title given to the Blessed Virgin Mary in her role as patroness of the Carmelite Order. The first Carmelites were Christian hermits living on Mount Carmel in the Holy Land during the late 12th and early …
The Pharisees went out and took counsel against Jesusto put him to death. When Jesus realized this, he withdrew from that place.Many people followed him, and he cured them all,but he warned them not to make him known.This was to fulfill what had been spoken through Isaiah the prophet: Behold, my servant whom I have …
Near the cross of Jesus stood his mother and his mother’s sister,Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary of Magdala. Seeing his mother and the disciple he loved standing near her, Jesus said to his mother, ‘Woman, this is your son.’ Then to the disciple he said, ‘This is your mother.’ And from that moment …
Just a few reminders in preparing ourselves to pray. According to St. Teresa of Avila, there are three essential steps to a fruitful practice of mental prayer: 1) First, we must be SEARCHING for God.2) Second, we must be willing to be ALONE with God.3) And third, we need to look upon the Lord as …
“In the first place surely, comes her desire to converse with God, to lead a higher life for and through Him. She thoroughly understands that the living God who fills heaven and earth, and at the same time dwells in our innermost heart must be the object of our thoughts and love. Most striking in …
Today, July 15, is the memorial of Saint Bonaventure. Doctor of the Church. Bonaventure was born in 1221. Little is known about his early years, except for the fact that his parents were Giovanni di Fidanza and Maria di Ritella. He was healed from a life-threatening childhood disease, thanks to the intercession of St. Francis …
Jesus was going through a field of grain on the sabbath.His disciples were hungryand began to pick the heads of grain and eat them.When the Pharisees saw this, they said to him,“See, your disciples are doing what is unlawful to do on the sabbath.”He said to the them, “Have you not read what David didwhen …
“Now, as never before, the eyes of the world are turned toward Carmel. In its garden a flower has opened its petals, of such ravishing beauty that countless numbers have directed their step hither, wishing to remain in the pleasance where such lovely flowers bloom. They examine anew the secrets of this beauty and once …
Today, July 14, is the memorial of Saint Camillus de Lellis. Founder of the Camillians (Order of Clerks Regular, Ministers of the Infirm or M.I.) Camillus was the son of a military officer who had served both for Naples and France. His mother died when Camillus was very young. He spent his youth as a …